Background: Nelvana was founded in 1971 in Canada by Michael Hirsh (now in the directory of the newly-formed "DHX Media"), Patrick Loubert, and Clive A. Smith to produce and distribute children's animated shows and movies originally. Until 1985, the company did not have a animated logo separate from the credits at the end of their shows, instead using an in-credit version of the Polar Bear looking up at the star without the arch (the "arch" was used sometimes between 1977 and 1985, and as the official outside logo from 1985 until 2004), and "NELVANA" below. Today, it's a subsidiary of Corus Entertainment, Inc.

Background Trivia: The company's name originally came from a female Canadian comic book superhero from the 1940s named "Nelvana of the Northern Lights", but the three decided to use a polar bear instead for a logo in order to avoid confusion.

1st Logo(December 6, 1977- )

Logo: It's only an in-credit text that reads: "A Nelvana Limited Production". For co-produced shows and TV specials, the name of the company is seen below the Nelvana text.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: The closing theme of the show.

Availability: Common. Seen on Nelvana shows and TV specials, starting with A Cosmic Christmas.

Scare Factor: None.

2nd Logo(October 15, 1978-1987)

Nicknames: "Nelvana Polar Bear", "Boring Polar Bear"

Logo: On a black background, we see an in-credit version of the Polar Bear looking up at the star, as seen on Nelvana shows from 1985-2004, but without an arch. "NELVANA", "NELVANA LIMITED", or "A NELVANA PRODUCTION" is seen below, sometimes with copyright info below.

FX/SFX: None.

Cheesy Factor: The in-credit Polar Bear scrolling up on The Care Bears Movie is very choppy.

Music/Sounds: Either the beginning or the ending theme of the movie, probably silence, or probably the ending theme of the show.

Availability: Appeared at the beginning or end of Nelvana-produced films from the '70s and 80's, beginning with The Devil And Daniel Mouse. This was also seen on Rock & Rule, The Care Bears Movie, and Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation. Also seen on the Star Wars: Droids cartoon show, the live-action series The Edison Twins, and early 80s prints of Nelvana's early animated TV specials (A Cosmic Christmas didn't feature the logo, nor did the Strawberry Shortcake specials or other co-productions with Those Characters from Cleveland). This was used in tandem with the next logo from 1985 until 1986.

Logo: On a black background, a blue square with a red outline and a white star in the center flies from the top right of the screen, gradually enlarging and turning counterclockwise to fit the screen as the star multiplies into a seven star semicircle outline. The text "NELVANA" appears below the semicircle in red. The star outline shines from left to right, and the pinnacle star sends a shower of light down the center of the semicircle. "NELVANA" lights up in orange, and the shower of light unfolds to the left, turning into a neon blue polar bear looking up.

Variants:

There are filmed and videotaped versions.

The short version, which is more common, starts off with the stars shining and the "shower of light" animation. This plays in warp speed on Eek! the Cat before the compressed or split-screen credits. This is slowed down on Beetlejuice.

A version where after the logo forms, the polar bear stands on its hind legs for a second before assuming its normal position was seen on some theatrical releases of the era; Babar: The Movie had it with the normal blue BG, while Care Bears: Adventure in Wonderland had it on a black BG.

The 1988 TV special Clifford the Big Red Dog has a rare gradient background variant with the logo rotating on screen from the center.

On Fievel's American Tails, a long version of the logo is shown on the top right corner along with the 1991 Amblin Television logo on the top left and the short 1991-2006 Universal Cartoon Studios logo on the bottom center.

On Family Dog, this logo was shown on the left alongside with the 1991 Amblin Television logo on the right (without the switch-off part).

On some episodes of Blazing Dragons, this logo was shown on the left alongside with the Ellipse Programme logo on the right.

On Season 4 episodes of Eek! Stravaganza (episodes with Klutter), this logo is shown in split screen on the left alongside with the 1989-1998 Film Roman logo on the right.

FX/SFX: The light effects, animated in beautiful 2D animation that holds up 30 years later.

Music/Sounds: A dramatic rising synth tune as the logo flies up, followed by a thunderclap as "NELVANA" lights up. For most of Nelvana's '90s shows, the end theme played over it or it was silent.

Music/Sounds Variants:

Sometimes, a mystical twinkling sound with a thunderclap played. Some specials, and shows distributed outside Canada and the U.S. used this variant, although the original broadcasts of My Pet Monster had this version's music playing over the standard logo.

On the 1989 film Babar: The Movie, a "WHOOSH" sound plays, followed by some dreamy "chime" sounds, then a second "WHOOSH". The "whoosh" and chimes are not present on the DVD release of the movie.

On Care Bears: Adventure in Wonderland, some whooshing sounds with wind chimes and a dreamy synth theme plays.

Availability: Rare. The short version can still be seen on 1995-2002 episodes of Little Bear and early episodes of Franklin on Nick Jr., Eek! Stravaganza (whenever reran), VHS releases of The Magic School Bus, and on VHS and DVD releases of the Nelvana version of the Care Bears. The theatrical version can be seen on the recent DVD release of Babar: The Movie. Also found on all episodes of Beetlejuice, and the pilot episode of Donkey Kong Country called "I Spy With My Hairy Eye". Netflix's prints of The Adventures of Tintin retain this logo.

Scare Factor: Minimal for the short variant. Low to medium for the long variant, especially the dark theatrical variant. However it's harmless and a favorite of some.

Final Note: Most shows had this logo until 1997 (after being used in tandem with the 4th logo below) when they then switched to the next logo. However, even though the logo retired in 1996, Little Bear continued to use the logo until its end in 2002, and earlier episodes of Franklin used this logo from its debut in 1997, until sometime in 1999.

4th Logo(1995-2004)

Nicknames: "Nelvana Polar Bear III", "Space Polar Bear"

Logo: On a space background, there is a flash of light and the Nelvana logo appears in CGI on the background looking similar to the 1st logo, with some exceptions: the seven star semicircle has a blue chrome outline, as does the polar bear and the "NELVANA" text. A comet flies from the right, and as it passes the pinnacle star and the 2nd star to the left in the semicircle, each star lights up.

Variants:

A few cartoons produced or distributed by Nelvana had their ending theme play over it. The short version of the ending theme playing over it can be seen on Donkey Kong Country, Max and Ruby, and Franklin.

There is a rare extended version of this logo which has a more delayed zoom-out. It ends with the logo animating backwards.

An even shorter version of the logo starting from when the comet flies from the right exists. Sometimes this is played in slow/delayed motion.

Some episodes of Donkey Kong Country have a still shot of this logo.

Starting in 2000, the byline "Nelvana is a Corus Entertainment Company" was added (with "Corus" written in its corporate font).

For international distribution, it's on a black BG and "Distributed By" and "INTERNATIONAL" were chyroned in above and below the logo, respectively. A Corus Entertainment byline was added in 2002.

There is a theatrical variant. A five-pointed star flashes in the distance on a much cleaner-looking starfield and the Nelvana logo (which looks more metallic and the stars around the arch aren't as visible), which is turned on its side, flies toward the screen and flips upright. The usual polar bear animation plays while it flips toward us. The logo sparkles a bit in the end.

An in-credit version has appeared on Tales From the Crypt on the final episode (and the only animated one), "The Third Pig".

FX/SFX: Excellent use of CGI on the starry background, blue chrome, and the comet flying.

Music/Sounds: The end theme of a show, the generic network theme, or silence. In 2002, the same music from the 3rd logo seen on Babar: The Movie was used on some shows, but sometimes, only the first note (a "WHOOSH" sound) was played. This was used on the extended variant of the logo.

Availability: Uncommon. First seen on The NeverEnding Story, which aired in 1995. The best way to find it is on PBS reruns of older Cyberchase episodes, international prints of The Fairly OddParents on Disney Channel and Disney XD, Rolie Polie Olie on the then-Playhouse Disney, North American reruns of Max and Ruby on Nick Jr., Medabots, post-1999 episodes of Franklin on Nick Jr, and Beyblade, among others. Also found on their American/U.K. dub of the anime Cardcaptor Sakura, known initially asCardcaptors in those regions, as well as All New Tales from the Cryptkeeper. The extended variant where the logo plays in reverse at the end can be found on Cardcaptors: The Movie.

Scare Factor: None to minimal. Great CGI, nothing to worry about. May get a little higher when the music is added and the spark flying, however.

Logo: On a white background, we see the seven star semicircle, polar bear, and "NELVANA" text as from the previous logo but with a dark blue outline. Underneath the "NELVANA" is the URL "www.nelvana.com", and underneath that is the byline "A CORUS Entertainment Company"(written exactly like the way you see it, only with a trademark(TM) symbol next to "CORUS").

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: None. In other cases, the end theme of a show or the generic network theme.

Availability: It was used as an alternate logo between 2001 and 2004. It appears on PBS reruns of 2003 Cyberchase episodes. It also appeared on some episodes of Maggie and the Ferocious Beast on Nick Jr. and some international episodes of The Fairly OddParents. The version with normal font byline appeared on the GBA game Beyblade V-Force.

Scare Factor: None. It's a clean but boring logo.

6th Logo(September 7, 2004- )

Nicknames: "Nelvana Polar Bear V", "Nebular Polar Bear"

Logo: On a black background, we see the polar bear with a blue outline around it looking up, bumping a star to the top right of his face. The logo looks similar to the in-credit logo seen before 1985. Under the bear and star is "NELVANA" with the byline "A Corus Entertainment Inc Company" underneath that. The star briefly twinkles, and a white haze of light forms and dissipates behind the logo.

Bylines:

2004-: The byline reads "A CORUS(TM) ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY", all in capital letters, and in the same font used in the alternate 2003 logo.

2006-: Because of parent company Corus Entertainment Inc.'s "growth" in it's company (hence the "Inc." for incorporated), the byline reads "A Corus(TM) Entertainment Inc. Company"(exactly like that). This became an alternate variant beginning in 2006.

Variants:

Sometimes no haze is shown for the standard logo.

There is a longer version where the polar bear "swims" onto the screen before bumping the star. Sometimes, no haze is shown.

A variant exists with the words "A NELVANA PRODUCTION" above the polar bear. No haze is shown.

On Grossology, there is a version in which the polar bear gets slimed Nickelodeon-style (or is it snot?). This variant was only seen on international airings of said show, and no haze is shown.

There is a variation where "INTERNATIONAL", in a rounded rectangle, is sandwiched inbetween NELVANA and the Corus byline.

A still version of the logo exists on at least the U.S. airings of Grossology.

Some episodes of Corduroy have the logo starting after the star is bumped.

There's a superimposed variant on Max and Ruby. No haze is shown.

On Handy Manny, it uses the same variant "A NELVANA PRODUCTION" over the logo, except the haze DOES appear as usual. The 2004 byline is also seen under the logo.

On the Qubo series My Friend Rabbit (which was last seen when Qubo had a block on NBC), the logo "stalls" a bit, where the polar bear does not bump the star exactly when first seen, after that, the animation is seen as usual. The 2004 byline is seen here, also.

The logo appeared on Beyblade G-Revolution, the game for GBA. The bear is placed to the left, and there's an "INTERNATIONAL" plate below. Another game, Bakugan: Rise of the Resistance, shows the logo in outlines.

FX/SFX: Modern-day 2D computer graphics.

Music/Sounds: Usually, the end theme of a show or the generic network theme plays over, but sometimes this logo has its own music, a nice guitar theme with some children laughing towards the end. Also, this logo was spotted with the music from the Clifford variant from 1985-1997 on a newer print of My Pet Monster due to it being a plaster job. For the Grossology variant, the first three notes of the guitar theme is heard, but it's interrupted by the sound of slime splashing and dripping. At least on one episode of Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends, the logo is silent.

Availability: Common on all current Nelvana shows, such as The Backyardigans and Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends on Nick Jr., Grossology when last seen on The Hub, Babar and the Adventures of Badou and Handy Manny on Disney Junior and was seen on Wayside on Nickelodeon/Nicktoons. It also appears tacked onto the end of some shows that had older Nelvana logos, such as Babar on Qubo, Bob and Margaret on Showtime Women, the now-discontinued Funimation DVD of WildC.A.T.S., and the Shout! Factory DVD releases of The Adventures of Tintin. Also, older Horrid Henry DVD's had this logo. This logo also plasters the 3rd logo on The Magic School Bus: The Complete Series DVD box set, released in 2012.

Scare Factor: Low. The sudden light haze in the background looks a little freaky, but should be OK. The Grossology variant leans slightly toward medium, due to it being so sudden. The version on Pet Monster leans toward medium as well. The silent variant is low to medium; you may expect a sudden noise to scare you.

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